Recording - November 2020 - 71

Pro Tools from Avid comes in three versions-the free Pro
Tools | First, standard Pro Tools, and Pro Tools | Ultimate.
Pro Tools | First is an excellent way to learn this industry standard DAW's ins and outs. Unlike GarageBand-which despite
basic similarities, feels noticeably different than Logic in use-First
is identical to regular Pro Tools in layout and operation, so working in this free version is the perfect way to build up the skills you
need to step into sessions in the standard versions of the program.
The most significant limitation in First is track count-you're
throttled down to 16-and simultaneous inputs, which top out
at four. This makes it suitable for track-by-track overdub-style
production, but not for more extensive live sessions, which are
the forté of regular Pro Tools. Included plugins are basic and
functional but lack the scope and variety found in the top-shelf
offering. Virtual instruments are even more limited-basically,
you get two, and while they're capable, most users might feel
the need to augment them right from the start.
When it's time to upgrade, Avid offers two choices-regular
Pro Tools and Pro Tools | Ultimate. Pro Tools is the version that
most producers and project studio operators would choose-
it's less expensive to buy or lease, and has everything needed
for music production. For people coming up from First, you get
significantly more I/O, many more plugins, and a selection of
instruments offering greater tweakability then the rompler-style
instruments found in First. The upgrade incentive is the desire for
more virtual instruments, more production tools, and the need to
record and mix larger ensembles.
Pro Tools is absolutely a full-fledged DAW, but there's still
another upgrade path-to Pro Tools | Ultimate. Ultimate would
be the version to go to for anyone moving into post production.
It incorporates surround/multichannel formats, more sophisticated automation features, and other high-end niceties.

Ableton Live Intro, to Standard, to Suite

Standard removes the Scene limit and significantly ups the
internal instrument / effects / loop resources. Again, like Pro
Tools, this is the full version of Live. Suite adds desirable synths
and the main sampler instrument for the full Live experience.
Live Suite also includes Max for Live, a high-end programming
environment add-on for serious (and highly technical) users. The
vastly more comprehensive content package is probably the biggest draw since that's the raison d' être of Live. While Pro Tools
Ultimate is more of an optional choice specifically for post-production users, for the kind of work Live users do, I'd say Live Suite
is the version to jump to for anyone who really wants to enjoy
working in the most creative Live environment.

Cubase LE/AI/Elements, to Cubase Pro

Steinberg Cubase comes in several versions, from the free
(bundled) AI and LE, to the $100 entry level Elements, to Artist,
and then finally to the full monte-Cubase Pro. AI, LE, and Elements are basically variations on the same theme, with Elements
(the entry level paid version) offering a few more tracks and
plugins. Similar to the above programs, each version of Cubase
adds track count, VST instruments and effects. Most significantly,
jumping to Cubase Pro adds niceties like control room functionality, Audio Warp Quantize and VariAudio 3 (pro-level pitch
correction). For many, VariAudio alone might well trigger an
upgrade to Cubase Pro, and the additional music creation and
collaboration tools could also help tip the scales.

And the beat goes on...

Ableton Live also comes in three flavors, all of which include
some advanced features (such as Warp time shifting, which is deeply ingrained in the Live workflow). The entry-level Live Intro is limited
to 16 audio and 16 MIDI tracks. Even more significant is its limit of
only eight Scenes-Scenes are Ableton's way of organizing loops
(Clips), which are triggered on the fly by the producer to create
live arrangements. A new user might find eight Scenes enough to
come up with simple arrangements; a serious loop-based producer
with even a modest musical imagination will bump up against that
limit in no time. Coupled with the small virtual instrument count and
relatively limited loop collection, all the limitations taken together
are more than enough to provide the push to Live Standard or Suite.

Plenty of other DAWs provide step-up options-like PreSonus
Studio One, which offers the free Prime (included with all
PreSonus interfaces and mixers) and the $100 Artist version
before hitting the top-end Studio One 5 Professional (reviewed
on Page 14). Or cokos Reaper-available for $60 (discount
license) or $200 (commercial license). They have the same codebase and feature set; the price is based on your intended use.
There are more, but I've run out of space! When it comes
time to upgrade any of the above, I'd suggest writing out a
checklist of the limitations that you frequently wrestle with, and
another of the features that you've been craving. With these in
mind, you'll know when it's time to make the jump and shake
things up with an infusion of new creative capabilities.
Happy upgrading!

Joe Albano is a musician/engineer/producer/educator
in NYC. Contact him at joealbano@recordingmag.com.
RECORDING November 2020

Recording - November 2020

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